Bandana - North Star (Harriet Tubman I)

A tribute to Harriet Tubman through an interpretation of the headscarf in her iconic photograph.

Although the photo is black and white, her headscarf has been described as maroon with white dots. Using research into widely used textiles from the period when the photograph would have been taken, I created a maroon, red and white pattern that is consistent with cotton fabrics made in the mid-19th century. 

Frederick Douglass said of Tubman: "The midnight sky and the silent stars have been the witnesses of your devotion to freedom and of your heroism.  Except perhaps John Brown, I know of no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people than you have."

The deep red colors are also meant to be symbolic of the depth of Harriet Tubman's conviction to the cause of emancipation despite the risks. The white is symbolic of the stars that she used to guide her way. In the lower right corner is a graphic of the north star constellation, which she used to help guide her as she led people to their freedom. 

Created in partnership with the National Archives foundation and includes both the All Very Goods and National Archives Foundation logos in the lower left corner. Also available for purchase in the National Archives gift shop and online shop.